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UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ADAMS, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRAUT du HINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

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SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 507,871, dated October 31, 1 893.

Application tiled May 5,1893. Serial No 473,056. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. ADAMS, of New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment- Supporters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in garment supporters particularly such as are designed'for supporting ladies hose, and it has for its object to provide an improved fastening means for the ends of the elastic or supporter proper, which will permit of the ready adjustment of the elastic or web, or the separation of the ends for the removal or attachment of the supporter.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garment supporter constructed in accordance with my. present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the clasp or coupling device. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the keeper and the locking lever open to illustrate how one end may be detached and the other end of the web adjusted. Fig. 4 is a View with the keeper separated from the body of the clasp.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The letter A indicates the web or elastic which is of the usual variety adapted to sur-` round the wearers limb, and by its tension retain the underlying hose in place. One end of this web is provided in the preferred form with the usual bow knot A and its opposite end is secured to a loop B, preferably of metal, and provided with a central enlargement or forwardly extending portion b for a purpose ,which will presently appear.

The letter C indicates the body of the clasp as Iy shall term the device for uniting the ends of the supporter, which in the present instance, is struck up from sheet metal with 463,088, filed February 20, 1893, and having laterally projecting ears or equivalent, overlying the side bars for limiting the forward movement of the lever, which construction permits of the employment of an unbroken gripping edge and prevents any unnecessary wear on the web where it passes through the clasp. Forward of the central cross bar c3 the body. of the clasp is bent down sharply as at E, then straight forward in a plane below the rear portion and terminates in a small central hook F, the point of which turns upward as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, for co-operation with the metal loop B on the oppositeend of the web orelastic. Portions of the metal within the forward portion of the body are removed, leaving a centrally arranged rearwardly projecting spring tongue H, the rear end of which is preferably free and is limited in its upward movement by the central cross bar c3, in which position it is adapted to (zo-operate with the rear inwardly projecting portion la of the keeper K which latter is journaled on pivotal pieces L, formed directly on the side bars of the forward portion of the body portion and projecting into the open spaces therein on each side of the longitludinal center. The keeper K has ears or lugs M on each side, which surround the pivotal pieces as will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 4, where the parts are separated to show their construction more clearly.

It will be observed from the foregoing, that the space between the keeper and the body of the device at the forward end, is in a plane substantially in line with that occupied by the web on each side of the clasp, and hence when the keeper is closed down as in Fig. l the whole device will present a smooth and neat appearance, no projections being left to catch in the wearers clothing or render the device uncomfortable.

In use, the keeper is held in closed or open position by the action of the spring on the projection at the pivot end, and when closed same may be adj ustably connected therewith, 15 the hook at the forward end, the centrally arranged rearwardly projecting spring, and the inwardly projecting pivotal pieces at the center of the clasp, of the keeper having the ears surrounding said pivotal pieces, and the zo central projection co-operating with the said spr'ing, whereby the keeper is held in open or closed position.

GEORGE E. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

R.. A. MOORE, J r., G. W. TRAUT. 

